By Todd Golden
TERRE HAUTE — Whatever the rift was between Indiana State coach Kevin McKenna and ISU guard Harry Marshall that caused the senior to be suspended for four days remains a closely guarded secret, at least to the public at large.
And it is officially over.
Marshall practiced Thursday for the Sycamores, his first activity with the team since McKenna levied an indefinite suspension on Marshall on Sunday. McKenna announced that Marshall’s suspension is over and that he will play in Saturday’s exhibition game against the University of Indianapolis.
“Marshall practiced [Thursday] and we are moving forward,” McKenna said to the Tribune-Star through an ISU sports information contact.
When McKenna was reached Thursday by the Tribune-Star, he had nothing to add to that statement. Efforts to reach Marshall on Thursday were unsuccessful.
The suspension became public knowledge on Monday when Marshall did not practice during preparation for Tuesday’s exhibition game against Rose-Hulman.
Marshall did not play and was not on the bench for the exhibition game, though he did attend the game in Hulman Center. He watched with former ISU guard Gabe Moore from one of the Hulman Center tunnels and also from the student section. After Tuesday’s game, Marshall spoke with ISU assistant coach Greg Lansing outside Hulman Center.
McKenna met with Marshall on Wednesday, a day where ISU had no organized practice activities. It is not known whether the situation was resolved then or at another time between Wednesday’s meeting and Thursday’s practice.
McKenna stressed throughout the suspension that it had nothing to do with academics. Marshall was ineligible for eight games in 2008. McKenna also said Marshall was never off the team, despite rumors to the contrary.
Marshall’s return means the Sycamores should be able to count on his 13.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, the senior’s averages as a junior.
ISU’s regular season opens Nov. 13 when the Sycamores play Division II Nebraska-Kearney.
